Blythe Benson, LICSW

Welcome to this section about my practice! I understand that finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming. Since the quality of therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in supporting growth and change, it's  important that that I'm someone you can trust and enjoy working with. For this reason, I offer a free 30 minute "meet and greet" to help determine if I would be a good fit for you.    

My Approach

   My primary objective is to provide a warm, supportive atmosphere where we can work together to clarify your core strengths and values in order to facilitate change that feels meaningful to you. My therapeutic approach will vary depending on your specific needs, however, the aim is to create an active and collaborative partnership that will serve as the foundation to explore patterns that have been holding you back while building a skill set to help you achieve your goals. I am grounded in the strengths-based perspective and believe we all have the capacity to thrive and maintain wellness when provided with compassionate guidance and resources.  I hope that through our work together you will begin to trust in your resilience while learning to live with more joy and intention. 

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."

--Viktor E. Frankl

"We have the power to create our lives from the inside out."

--Sharon Salzberg

Individual counseling for adults (18 and over) in the following areas:

• Depression and anxiety 
• Undergraduate/Graduate mental health 
• Stress management /work-life balance
• Life transitions
• Pregnancy and postpartum support
• Parenting challenges 
• Relationship challenges
• Career and identity exploration 

Individual Clinical Supervision 

• I am an approved clinical supervisor for social workers seeking licensure through the State of Washington, and enjoy providing individual supervision to emerging clinicians  
  

I draw from the following clinical perspectives:

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)  
• Mindfulness /Self-Compassion
• Attachment Theory
• Motivational Interviewing 
• Psychodynamic Theory
  

I participate in regular clinical consultation and continuing education to maintain expertise and professional accountability

I have lived and worked in the Seattle area my entire life and can't imagine calling another place home, although I love to travel. I earned my Bachelor's in Comparative Sociology at the University of Puget Sound, and then served two years in AmeriCorps working with youth in South Snohomish County after graduation. I continued my career in social services as a residential counselor for children with severe psychiatric and behavior disorders in Seattle before completing my MSW at the University of Washington in 2002. I thought I would spend my career working in mental health services with youth, until I was placed at the VA Puget Sound for my advanced practicum in graduate school and discovered that I thoroughly enjoy working with all ages. I spent a few more years as a classroom-based therapist in the public school system before transitioning back into hospital based social work, where I spent  the bulk of my career.

I worked in several different medical and psychiatric settings prior to establishing my career as a psychiatric social worker for the University of Washington Medical Center from 2004-2019.  I enjoyed providing clinical assessment, therapeutic interventions and care coordination for individuals struggling with serious mental illness. Working for an academic medical center provided me the opportunity to gain experience with many evidence-based interventions for psychiatric and substance use disorders and I appreciated collaborating with other disciplines, including psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and occupational therapists. During my tenure at UWMC I also served as a Practicum Instructor for the UW School of Social Work, where I still have an active clinical  faculty appointment. 

I have been a therapist in private practice with Cedar Tree Counseling Services since 2017 and I am incredibly grateful to have a meaningful career that I love.  

Please don't hesitate to contact me for a free 30 minute consultation at blythe@cedartreecounselingservices.com or 

206-855-3835, x2